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With the end of the year upon us, we wanted to run through the results of our end-of-the-year Better Drivers' Choice Awards. These are the results you voted for, and the things we selected.

This was the most popular photo on Melons' Better Driving this year, and we took it ourselves! Photo is of Justin Bayliff's Evo X at the Rally of the Tall Pines.

Best Race of 2016:

The honour for the Best Race of 2016 had to be awarded to the most amazing race of the year. This is the race that took unpredictability, excitement, and a close race finish to the absolute extreme. This race had to be action-packed from the beginning, until the end, and preferably with an examplary display of car control in wet conditions. Well, we have agreed upon a tie, between the Spanish Grand Prix and the Brazilian Grand Prix. Say what you want about him, but, watching Max Verstappen is never going to be boring!

Whether it be the crazy overtakes in Spain, or the immense talent in the rain in Brazil, Max Verstappen kept us captivated for the full year.

​Weirdest Race of 2016:

For the decision of the Weirdest Race of 2016, we've chosen the 2016 Continental Tire Challenge race at VIR. With more than half of the race being under caution or red flag, due to the worst rain I've ever seen in a single race, the strategy was chaotic. The racing itself, before and after the rain, was equally chaotic. And, when the sudden downpour came, that's when the chaos really happened. The entire race was chaotic!

Did we mention that you can watch the race here on the internet? Here's the race on YouTube:

Most Heartbreaking Moment, 2016:

This one barely needs any words. After leading for 23.9 hours of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Toyota loses power at the final pair of laps, and retires. This is heartbreak. Look at the tears of teams. We're really sad for Toyota! We wish them the best luck in 2017...

Happiest Moment of 2016:

Christina Nielsen, Danish racing driver

The happiest moment, or the most rewarding moment, was when a female driver finally won the IMSA Weathertech championship. Christina Nielsen fought hard all year for that championship victory, and finally accomplished it at the Petit Le Mans. We hope that she can prove that racing isn't just a men's sport, but it's actually a sport for everyone. Great championship, Christina!

Better Drivers' Choice: Car of 2016

Here's where things get tricky, though. We had open voting, for any car, in history, that we believed was the greatest car ever. We got lots of results, but there was no clear cut winner. Every single entry only received one vote. Seriously, we got one vote for every car that made the list. These cars include:

Ford Falcon XR8

Nissan Micra

McLaren 570S

Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio Verde

Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R

Porsche 911R

Porsche Cayman GT4

Jaguar E-Type

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1

TVR Griffith

Honda Civic EK9 Type R

Lexus LF-A

Well, I will admit, that's a great list. There is no real pattern. From the ultra-expensive, rare, classic Jaguar E-Type to the all-wheel-drive super-sedan 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia QV, the Lexus LF-A supercar, and even the pure modern muscle of the Camaro ZL1 and Mustang GT350R, we can definitely appreciate all of the cars on this list. But, the problem is, we're left with nothing - anywhere - to really settle this debate for which car is the best. No single car stands out.

Forget the idea of one car being the best car ever: It's impossible for one car to ever stand supreme. As soon as someone likes a car, the people will immediately decide to like something different. What actually happens, in all seriousness, is an appreciation for the flavours of the cars of the world. We've got so many cars to choose from, that choosing one - sticking with one car - is a horrifying punishment for closed-mindedness. Open your eyes, or your ears (I can't mention the LF-A without mentioning that exhaust note) and see the automotive world for what it truly is: the greatest opportunity to express yourself and your personality, in the world.

The Most Exciting New Car of 2016:

Well, although we can talk about how we want the automotive world to stop choosing a favourite car, we can still talk about the car that we're most happy to see. This category is about a car which is aimed at pleasure, style and sophistication. The idea of the car is changing drastically, and we want to see the cars which bring great pleasure to their helmsman staying around, and being reborn. The sophistication of this award comes down to the acceptance of modern technologies, while embracing the idea of a driver's car; a car intended to be the most quintessentially enjoyable car ever made. We want cars to be modern, while still possessing the charm of classic cars.

The winner of this award in 2016? It's the Alfa Romeo 4C!

The beauty is just the tip of the iceberg. Photo credit: https://www.alfaromeousa.com/cars/alfa-romeo-4c-coupe

The idea of combining an ultra-low-emissions 4 cylinder in the middle of a carbon fiber monocoque, with a turbo for added power, no power steering, Alfa Romeo styling, and a nice aerodynamic efficiency paid off well for the Italian automanufacturer. The Alfa simply stuns, combining the best of the yesteryear (the simplicity of it, with very little interference from electronics) with modern technologies is exactly what this automotive world needs more of. The fact that this car is a sensation to drive speaks volumes for the capabilities of the modern car. You don't have to pollute a lot, nor drink fuel like water, to make a pleasurable car. You have to make the car more efficient, and that's the shining diamond in the Alfa 4C's crown.

Honourable mentions:

Ford Mustang Shelby GT350R (a great handling platform that puts its power down efficiently)

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 (the Mustang's evil classmate)

Aston Martin DB11 (making modernity look beautifully flawless)

McLaren P1 (world's fastest electric car?)

Porsche 918 (an awesome alternative to the P1)

Ferrari LaFerrari (if you want a hypercar, but the P1 is too brash, and the 918, too clinical, this is middle-ground)

Honda S660 (the car we know you would buy, if Honda brought it to international export)

Author

This site was founded in mid-2016 by Drew Geier. This update log serves to update the community of changes that happen to our site. If you notice anything that you would like to see improved to the site, please email drew@melonsbetterdriving.com to ask us to update the site. Doing so, you will receive a discount on everything in our store!